- Home
- Company
- News & Media
- Bobcat Stories
- Meet the Anderson Brothers From the Bobcat Gwinner Plant
Meet the Anderson Brothers From the Bobcat Gwinner Plant
Published on October 28, 2016
Family get-togethers happen a lot at the Bobcat Gwinner plant when the Anderson brothers show up for work.
At the birthplace of the world’s first skid-steer loader in Gwinner, North Dakota, are four brothers who embody the family-oriented culture of Bobcat Company: Marcus, Warren, Wayne and Curt Anderson.
Each brother has more than 40 years of experience in welding, robotics and assembly operations in the Bobcat Gwinner plant, and they have over 170 years of combined experience.
Marcus “Abe” Anderson is an assembler, while brothers Warren, Wayne and Curt are welders. Curt, the youngest of the Anderson brothers, joined the company as a welder in 1973 and retired in August 2016.
“From the beginning, Bobcat Company was a familiar place for all of us,” Curt says. “The company lends a helping hand whenever, wherever the neighbors need help. It’s a family-oriented company. It’s like a second home that’s allowed us to support our families.”
Bobcat Company has been building loaders in Gwinner, a town of 795 people in sparsely populated southeastern North Dakota, since 1958. The company and the town are now intertwined, with about one in seven Gwinner residents working at the plant.
Wayne Anderson’s daughter, Keely Lehmann, grew up in the shadow of the factory complex and became a forklift operator there in 2010. Today she works on the loader line, assembling operator cabs.
“I love coming here every day. I love what I do. It’s fun to see my dad and uncles here every day. Same with my brother and my brothers-in-law. Kind of like being at home.”
While many Gwinner residents are at the heart of the company, one thing is clear: The Anderson family is so closely identified with Bobcat that the brothers were asked to perform the Bobcat Square Dance for the Millionth Bobcat Loader Celebration in July 2014 (see the video below!).
So does Keely expect to pass along the family’s Bobcat tradition to her two boys, ages 9 and 7? “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Keely says. “They think the Bobcat loader is the most amazing thing. It would be pretty cool to have my kids go to work in the same place as I do — makes a person feel good.”
More Recent Stories
View All Stories- Childhood Friends Become Landscaping Pros with Bobcat Equipment
Childhood Friends Become Landscaping Pros with Bobcat Equipment
Childhood friends Anthony Heathco and Colton Roush founded Roadkill Lawncare & Landscaping in Grand Junction, Colorado, starting with a Bobcat® MT100. - Rocky Mountain Stonecrete Completes Challenging Jobs with Bobcat Equipment
Rocky Mountain Stonecrete Completes Challenging Jobs with Bobcat Equipment
Founded in 2006 by Eric Niemann, Rocky Mountain Stonecrete has grown with Bobcat equipment and his loyal crew, by taking on challenging jobs that scare other contractors. - Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture with Education
Houston-Based Sweetwater Farms HTX Combines Agriculture with Education
With the help of volunteers, friends, and a brand-new Bobcat® compact tractor, Chaz Daughtry is taking the Houston agriculture scene by storm. - Bobcat Mowers Expands CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping Business
Bobcat Mowers Expands CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping Business
Cody Kuebler started CLK Lawn Care and Landscaping at the age of 11, he expanded his business with two Bobcat ZS4000 Mowers and now his team only uses Bobcat mowers. - Omaha Contractors Provide Tornado Relief with Bobcat Equipment
Omaha Contractors Provide Tornado Relief with Bobcat Equipment
Local contractors in Omaha, Nebraska, including Ideal Construction and Mitera Landscaping, rallied with Bobcat machines to aid in tornado cleanup and community support. - Bobcat Compact Tractor Provides Solace for Mobile Crisis Clinician
Bobcat Compact Tractor Provides Solace for Mobile Crisis Clinician
Therese Swift, a mobile crisis clinician, mitigates work stress by tending to her horses and mules, with her Bobcat CT4045 compact tractor aiding in the upkeep. - Shades of Green Nursery Unites Community with Bobcat Equipment
Shades of Green Nursery Unites Community with Bobcat Equipment
At Shades of Green Nursery, founder Julie Holland uses Bobcat equipment to unite the community in Celina, Texas with inclusive gardening practices that support the local ecosystem. - Bobcat and RADshare Partner for Youth BMX Opportunities
Bobcat and RADshare Partner for Youth BMX Opportunities
Bobcat Company is supporting co-founders Steve Crandall and Nate Hanger of RADshare with Bobcat Equipment to provide opportunities for the youth to dive into the world of BMX. - JJC Tree Services LLC Grows with Bobcat Equipment
JJC Tree Services LLC Grows with Bobcat Equipment
John Shreaves of JJC Tree Services LLC launched and grew his business with his Bobcat compact track loaders and attachments to help him accomplish more. - Julie Rummer – Bobcat $25k Backyard Makeover Winner
Julie Rummer – Bobcat $25k Backyard Makeover Winner
After a tragic accident Julie Rummer's backyard was inaccessible and now thanks to Bobcat’s backyard makeover contest, it is an oasis, reigniting her outdoor passion.
What’s Your Bobcat Story?
Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.
Share Your Story